ESPN Launches Ads to Promote Euro 2008 TV Coverage

ESPN has launched a series of ads on their network to promote their coverage of the upcoming Euro 2008 tournament. The TV ads feature Germany, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy. My personal favorite is the Portugese one, but each of them is well done.

So far, ESPN hasn’t made a wrong move in their preparation for their live TV coverage of Euro 2008. The network has announced that the vast majority of Euro 2008 matches will be shown in HD. Plus, in the buildup to Euro 2008, ESPN Classic will be showing the European Championship finals from 1972 onwards each night from May 26 to June 5. Bravo ESPN (seriously).

About The Author

Publisher of World Soccer Talk, Christopher Harris founded the site in 2005. He has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Guardian and several other publications. Plus he has made appearances on NPR, BBC World, CBC, BBC Five Live, talkSPORT and beIN SPORT.
Harris, who was born and raised in Wales, has lived in Florida since 1984, and supported Swansea City since 1979. Last but not least, he got engaged during half-time of a MLS game.

The real “generalizing idiots” here in my opinion, are the people behind these ads. So basically, ESPN is trying to teach us that:

1) Italians are only good at whining and complaining
2) Portuguese are only good for their dribbles
3) Germans are good at building stuff (“Engineered to win”????)

Great. So either whoever made these ads actually believes the above (sad), or that’s how soccer is perceived by the average American sports fan (sadder). My take: these ads could have used a little more effort in the creativity department.

Danny, Flamenco is Spanish, why would they use spanish flamenco in a Portuguese commercial? Seriously? What you heard is classic Portuguese guitar. Catchy isn’t it? Youtube has plenty of examples. Related with Fado.

I know nobody that watches Wrestling or Nascar. I live in the 4th biggest media market in the US, SF Bay Area.
Truth, you are an idiot!!!
As far as the stereotype issue…..unfortunately, that is the best appoach to get the average sports fan’s interest peaked in America. It isn’t very sophisticated, but it appeals to a larger mass of people, and the others would watch the tournament anyways.

I doubt the ESPN ratings are going to be terrible because England and Scotland aren’t in the Euro 2008 finals. Fans of England and Scotland will still want to watch. It doesn’t have to have spectacular ratings for ESPN to do well; it’s not like there’s a lot of other good sports stuff on ESPN in June.